Free Knitting Pattern: Melodica Coin Purse

There is something quietly satisfying about a small project. After months of wrestling with sweater sleeves and gauge swatches for a complicated colorwork yoke, sometimes all you want is to sit down with a little yarn, a set of needles, and an hour or two of uncomplicated knitting. The Melodica Coin Purse is exactly that kind of project — small, charming, and finished before you know it.

This little purse takes its name from the melodica, that whimsical keyboard instrument beloved by music teachers and experimental musicians alike. Like the instrument itself, this coin purse has a playful, slightly retro personality. It is the kind of object that makes people smile when they see it tucked into a tote bag or sitting on a desk. It holds coins, yes, but also lip balm, earbuds, a house key, a ring you are not wearing today, a folded note. It is small enough to be precious and useful enough to be carried every single day.

The construction is simple and satisfying. You knit a small rectangle, shape the ends with short rows or simple decreases depending on the version you choose, fold it in half, seam the sides, and add a zipper. That is the whole project. But within that simplicity there is a lot of room to make it your own, and this pattern walks you through every step with enough detail that even a fairly new knitter can follow along comfortably.

About This Pattern

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Finished Size: Approximately 4.5 inches wide by 3 inches tall (when zipped shut)
Gauge: 22 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using worsted weight yarn
Yarn: Approximately 50 to 75 yards of worsted weight yarn (one or two colors)
Needles: US Size 7 (4.5mm) straight or circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: Tapestry needle, 5-inch zipper in a coordinating or contrasting color, scissors, stitch markers (optional), sewing needle and thread to match zipper

Notes: Gauge is not critical for this project since it is a non-wearable accessory, but getting close to the recommended gauge will give you a purse of the listed dimensions. If you go too loose, the fabric will be floppy and the zipper will be hard to attach neatly. If you go too tight, the fabric will be stiff but still perfectly functional.

Materials

Let’s talk yarn for a moment, because this is one of those projects where you can really have fun with your stash. Because you only need between 50 and 75 yards, this purse is a perfect candidate for yarn you have loved but never had enough of — a beautiful skein you bought at a fiber festival that was a single skein because the vendor was selling her handspun, a leftover ball from a hat project, half a skein of something cashmere-blend that you have been saving.

For the best result, choose a yarn with a tight twist and good stitch definition. Wool and wool blends work beautifully because they have memory, hold their shape, and felt slightly against themselves, which gives the finished fabric a nice body. Cotton and cotton blends also work well if you prefer a stiffer, more structured fabric — cotton has no stretch, so the coin purse will hold its shape firmly, which can make zipper attachment a little easier.

Avoid very fuzzy or heavily textured yarns for your first version. Mohair-blend yarns are romantic, but they can make it harder to see your stitches and much harder to seam neatly. Once you know the pattern, a halo yarn version is stunning — but save that for round two.

For the zipper, a 5-inch zipper works perfectly for the listed dimensions. You can find these at fabric stores, craft stores, or online in virtually every color imaginable. Metal zippers have a lovely vintage feel. Nylon coil zippers are lighter and easier to sew through dense fabric. Either works. If you can only find a 6-inch or 7-inch zipper, don’t worry — you can simply stop your seam a little before the end on each side to allow the zipper to fit, or you can hand-sew the zipper and trim the excess.

Abbreviations

k — knit
p — purl
st(s) — stitch(es)
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
k2tog — knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
ssk — slip, slip, knit (a left-leaning decrease)
CO — cast on
BO — bind off
sl — slip stitch purlwise with yarn in back (unless otherwise indicated)
pm — place marker
sm — slip marker
rep — repeat
wyif — with yarn in front

The Pattern

Casting On

Using your preferred cast-on method, CO 50 stitches.

The long-tail cast on is recommended here because it creates a tidy, firm edge that will sit neatly along the bottom of the zipper. If you prefer a stretchy cast on, the German twisted cast on also works beautifully and gives the bottom edge a lovely braided appearance.

Body

Row 1 (RS): Knit across all 50 stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Purl across all 50 stitches.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the piece measures 6 inches from the cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

Six inches gives you enough fabric to fold in half and end up with a 3-inch-tall purse. If you want a slightly deeper purse — good for lip gloss or folded bills — work until the piece measures 7 inches and your finished purse will be 3.5 inches tall.

A note on keeping track: Because this is such a small piece, it can be tempting to eyeball the length rather than measure. Resist the urge. Stockinette fabric grows quite a bit when blocked and sewn, and a purse that looks like 5.5 inches on the needle can easily become 6.5 inches once you have washed and pressed it. Measure from the cast-on edge, with the piece lying flat and not stretched.

Shaping the Top Edge (Optional)

You have two options for the top edge. The first is simply to bind off all 50 stitches in knit, giving you a straight top edge. This is the quickest option and works beautifully.

The second option creates a very slight scalloped edge at the top, which is purely decorative and gives the purse a softer, more organic look. To do this:

Scallop Bind-Off Row (RS): K8, BO 2 sts; rep from to last 10 sts, k8, BO 2. Cut yarn and fasten off.

This creates small notches at regular intervals along the top edge. When the purse is folded and seamed, these notches align and create gentle scallops that are visible just above the zipper. It is a small detail, but it lifts the finished piece from simple to considered.

If you choose the scallop option, you may need to ease the zipper in slightly more carefully, which is covered in the finishing section.

Finishing: Seaming the Sides

Block the piece before seaming if possible. For wool, wet it thoroughly, squeeze out excess water gently, and lay it flat to the listed dimensions. Let it dry completely. Blocking relaxes the stitches, evens out any tension inconsistencies, and makes the finished piece look noticeably more professional.

Once blocked and dry, fold the rectangle in half with right sides facing out. The fold becomes the bottom of the purse. Thread your tapestry needle with a length of yarn (about 18 inches) and use mattress stitch to seam the sides.

Mattress stitch for stockinette: Working with the right side facing you, insert the needle under the horizontal bar between the first and second stitch on the right piece, then under the corresponding bar on the left piece. Pull gently. Continue up the seam, alternating sides. Pull the yarn snug every four or five stitches — not tight, just firm.

Leave approximately a quarter inch at the top of each seam unsewn. This small gap makes it much easier to attach the zipper because you have a little flexibility at each corner.

Weave in all ends securely from the inside.

Attaching the Zipper

This is the step that intimidates knitters the most, and it shouldn’t. Attaching a zipper to a knitted piece is not difficult — it just requires a bit of patience and a willingness to work slowly.

What you need: Your 5-inch zipper, a sewing needle (a regular hand-sewing needle, not your tapestry needle), thread in a color that matches your yarn or your zipper tape, scissors, and a few straight pins or clips.

Step 1: Position the zipper. Open the zipper halfway. Lay the purse flat with the opening facing up. Place the zipper inside the purse along the top opening, right side of the zipper facing you through the opening, zipper pull facing up. The zipper tape should sit just below the top edge of the purse on both the front and back. Pin or clip the zipper in place, checking that the pull slides freely and that the zipper is centered.

Step 2: Sew the front side. Thread your sewing needle and knot the end. Working from the inside of the purse so your knot will be hidden, bring the needle through to the outside just below the top edge of the knitting. Use a whip stitch or a running stitch to sew the zipper tape to the top edge of the purse. Keep your stitches small and even — about every two or three knitted stitches. The goal is to catch the zipper tape firmly without pulling the knitting out of shape.

Step 3: Sew the back side. Flip the purse over and repeat the process on the back side.

Step 4: Tack the ends. At each corner, fold the zipper tape in neatly and take a few small stitches to tack it flat against the inside of the purse. This prevents the raw ends of the tape from catching on things and gives a much tidier finish.

Step 5: Test it. Zip and unzip the zipper several times. The pull should move smoothly and the top of the purse should open and close cleanly. If the zipper feels stiff or the fabric is pulling, you may need to ease a stitch or two on whichever side is tightest.

Making It Your Own: Variations

Two-Color Stripes

This is the most obvious and most satisfying variation. Using two colors of yarn — one for the main body and one for stripes — creates a coin purse that looks cheerful and deliberate. Switch colors every two rows for narrow stripes, every four rows for wider ones, or play around with asymmetric stripes if you are feeling adventurous.

When changing colors in stripes, carry the unused yarn up the side of the work rather than cutting it at each color change. This keeps the inside of the purse tidy and eliminates a lot of ends to weave in.

A Simple Colorwork Panel

If you are comfortable reading charts, a small stranded colorwork motif worked into the center of the purse body is a wonderful addition. A geometric border, a simple floral motif, a tiny animal — there are countless free charts available online, and even a design that is just 10 stitches wide and 12 rows tall will be enough to fill the center panel beautifully.

Work the colorwork section in the middle of the body length — roughly between rows 20 and 32 if you are working to the standard 6-inch length — so it sits right in the center of the finished purse.

Seed Stitch Body

Replace the stockinette body with seed stitch for a fabric that has more texture and doesn’t curl. This is particularly nice if you choose to work with a slightly rustic or thick-and-thin yarn, because seed stitch shows off the irregularities beautifully.

Seed stitch: K1, p1; rep from to end on all RS rows. On WS rows: P1, k1; rep from to end.

Note that seed stitch uses slightly more yarn than stockinette, so you may want to have 80 to 90 yards available rather than 75.

An Embroidered Motif

Finished stockinette fabric is a lovely canvas for embroidery. A few lazy daisy stitches, a simple chain stitch initial, or even a small botanical motif worked in a contrasting color after the purse is finished can make the piece feel incredibly personal and giftable. Use a blunt embroidery needle and thin yarn or embroidery floss. Transfer a simple design from paper to the knitting using a water-soluble marker, then stitch over it.

Gift Giving and Practical Notes

The Melodica Coin Purse is one of those patterns that becomes a gift machine once you know it. It works up in an evening. It uses stash yarn. It is small enough to mail without paying extra postage. And because it is functional, useful, and a little charming, people genuinely love receiving it.

Make a set of three or four in coordinating colors and tie them together with a ribbon for a lovely handmade gift set. Or fill one with a few nice chocolates, a folded note, and a small treat before giving it. The purse is the wrapping and the gift at the same time.

If you plan to give coin purses as gifts, consider making them in a washable yarn so the recipient can care for them easily without worry. A superwash wool or a cotton-blend both wash well on a gentle machine cycle. Lay flat to dry.

Troubleshooting

The zipper pull is hard to move. This usually means the zipper is sewn too tightly against the knitting. Take out a few stitches on whichever side feels stiffest and re-sew with a little more ease. Even two or three millimeters of extra room can make a significant difference.

The sides of the purse are uneven. This is almost always a tension issue in the mattress stitch seaming. Pull out the seam and redo it, being careful to take each stitch at the same distance from the edge and pulling with the same tension throughout.

The purse looks a bit short or narrow. Remember that the dimensions in this pattern are for a gauge of 22 stitches over 4 inches. If your gauge is different, your purse will be a different size. For a wider purse, cast on more stitches — every 5 extra stitches adds approximately 1 inch of width. For a taller purse, work more rows before binding off.

The knitting curls badly. Stockinette curls until it is seamed and blocked. Before the purse is assembled, the fabric will roll inward dramatically. This is completely normal and not a sign that anything is wrong. Once the piece is blocked, seamed, and has the zipper in place, the structure holds the fabric flat.

Final Thoughts

Small projects have a particular magic. They let you finish something, which matters more than people sometimes admit. They let you practice skills — reading a pattern, seaming neatly, attaching a zipper — without the pressure of a big investment of time or materials. They produce something genuinely useful and beautiful. And they give you a little gift to carry with you or pass along.

The Melodica Coin Purse is the kind of thing you will want to make more than once, in different colors, different yarns, different stripe combinations. It fits into an evening. It fits into a lunch break. It fits into the pocket of your coat and jangles pleasantly with the coins inside.

We hope you love making it. If you do, share a photo — tag it with #MelodicaCoinPurse and #CraftDrawer so the whole community can see your version. There is no wrong way to make this little purse, and every color combination tells its own story.

Happy knitting.

Pattern and content © Craft Drawer. Please feel free to make and sell items from this pattern, but please do not reproduce or redistribute the pattern itself without permission. A link back to Craft Drawer is always warmly appreciated.